Consumers Union advocates backup cameras

Rear blind zones are a serious safety issue. According to federal statistics, about 228 people were backed over in 2007 in the U.S. when drivers couldn't see them.

Based on its years of experience with backup cameras and sensor systems, Consumers Union recommends a regulation be crafted to mandate such systems in order to remove deadly blind zones behind cars.

In public comments made this week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Consumers Union, parent of Consumer Reports, recommended the agency adopt a standard requiring backup cameras and passive sensors to alert drivers when they need to look at the rear-view screen.

In our testing, we have found that no single system offers a perfect solution. Radar-based sensor systems generate frequent false alarms and also fail to warn drivers when a small object is near the back of the car. (Too many false alarms are likely to cause drivers to ignore the system when an alarm is justified.) And drivers don't always look at video cameras.

We think the standard should include requirements for screen clarity and size based on how far the screen is from the driver's eyes. While displays in a rear-view mirror can work well, some dashboard displays, like the Toyota Venza's, can be too small. We estimate the manufacturer's cost of a camera system shouldn't exceed $100.

Any standard also needs to limit the delay between when the car is shifted into reverse and when the rear-view image appears on the screen. In some new-car systems we have tested, it takes several seconds for the image to appear after the car is put in reverse, making it long after you've started moving. In others, the dashboard screen won't display any image until the driver has accepted a legal disclaimer that appears every time the car is started. 

Consumer Reports has measured the blind zone behind cars for several years. For some SUVs and pickups, a short driver may not be able to see what is behind the rear bumper for up to 50 feet behind the vehicle. In addition, we've found that while some aftermarket camera systems work well, some inexpensive aftermarket backup cameras aren't durable, and some systems can be difficult to install.

In the meantime, drivers need to exercise caution when backing up. Always check your side mirrors, and turn and look before you back up. In general, slow down, take a breath, and don't rush when you start driving. The consequences of backing over something unnoticed are too severe.

—Eric Evarts